The New York Mets are entering the 2026 campaign with a very different-looking team from the last time we saw them. Whether or not it will lead to better results is unknown, but it’s clear that expectations are still sky-high for this Mets squad, and if they can put all the pieces of the puzzle together, they could make some serious noise in the National League East.
Of course, there are going to be guys who aren’t currently factoring into the mix that could eventually end up being a contributor at some point this upcoming season. Having a deep prospect pool certainly helps, with one guy in particular, Ryan Lambert, being identified as a player who could enjoy a breakout season for New York.
Ryan Lambert Tabbed as Potential Breakout Prospect for Mets
Lambert was selected in the eighth round of the 2024 MLB Draft, and he has quickly managed to make his mark in the minors for New York. After appearing in only two games at High-A in 2024, Lambert eventually found his way to Double-A last season, and his final numbers on the year indicate that he could end up in the majors in the near future (2-1, 1.62 ERA, 7 SV, 81 K, 1.16 WHIP).
In a deep pool of pitching prospects, Lambert has had a tendency to get overlooked at times during his recent rise through the minors. Even entering the 2026 campaign, he’s only ranked the team’s No. 18 prospect by MLB.com. And while that is obviously somewhat tied to his ceiling, it’s clear that Lambert is one of the most MLB-ready prospects at the team’s disposal.
Whether or not Lambert will begin the season in the majors is unknown, as the Mets may prefer to get him some more work in the minors before calling him up to the big leagues. Assuming all goes according to plan, though, Lambert should make his major league debut at some point in 2026, leading Will Sammon of The Athletic to label him a potential breakout prospect for the team ahead of the new season.
“Lambert, 23, is an old-school reliever who mostly uses a high-velocity fastball and slider,” Sammon wrote. “Lambert’s fastball was sitting at 98 mph on Feb. 15. He can touch triple digits … A major-league debut at some point this season, sooner rather than later, is conceivable.”
Mets Hoping Ryan Lambert Can Make an Impact in 2026
GettyManager Carlos Mendoza of the New York Mets signals to the bullpen.
Lambert is still only 23 years old, so while New York would like to get him up and running in the majors soon, it still has some to make sure he’s ready to roll before he gets the call to the big leagues. Once he does, though, Lambert has shown an ability in the minors to be an impact player out of the bullpen, which is something the Mets still need as they prepare for the new campaign.
Manager Carlos Mendoza is going to have some tough decisions to make when it comes to filling out his Opening Day roster. Lambert could make a late push for a spot on the team, but it seems more likely he will start the year at Triple-A before potentially getting promoted later in the year. Regardless of where he begins the season, though, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in the majors by the time the campaign wraps up.
Mets ‘Old School Reliever’ Prospect Named as Breakout Candidate for 2026